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Venezuela hikes minimum wage by 30 per cent

Minimum wage, pension increases response to soaring inflation rate

By Andrew Cawthorne

04/30/2014|hrreporter.com|Last Updated: 04/30/2014

CARACAS (Reuters) — Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro announced on Monday a 30 per cent increase in the minimum wage and pensions to protect Venezuelans from inflation nearing a 60 per cent annual rate.

Maduro blames soaring consumer prices on an "economic war" launched by foes of his socialist government, frequently lambasting business executives for alleged price-gouging, hoarding and speculating.

Critics, though, say Venezuela's endemic inflation problem is evidence of the failure of 15 years of socialist economics under Maduro and his late predecessor Hugo Chavez.

"Now, because of the May 1 celebrations, I have decided to increase the minimum national salary and pensions by 30 per cent to levels that will defend the quality of life of our people," Maduro said at a meeting with workers' leaders in Caracas.

Maduro, 51, a former union leader who narrowly won an election to replace Chavez last year, announced there would be three May Day workers' rallies in Caracas on Thursday.

Student opponents are also planning protests as part of a three-month campaign of street demonstrations against Maduro.

Tuesday's wage hike followed a 10 per cent increase in January and puts Venezuela's minimum salary at 4,251 bolivars ($740 CAD).

Monthly inflation accelerated to 4.1 per cent in March, which the government attributed to the impact of anti-Maduro street protests that have blocked roads and led to violence killing at least 41 people since February.

The annualized inflation figure topped 57 per cent in February, but the government did not publish that figure for March. Private economists estimated it at about 59 per cent.

"Almost all the nations in Latin America are growing, with one-digit inflation and real improvements, except for our Venezuela," he said via Twitter. "Reason ... The failed Castro-communist model that the government insists on applying."

Opponents say Chavez and Maduro have both been heavily influenced by the communist rule of Cuba's Castro brothers.